Penthesilea by Heinrich von Kleist

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About this eBook

Author Kleist, Heinrich von, 1777-1811
Title Penthesilea
Note Reading ease score: 83.9 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Thanks are given to Delphine Lettau for finding a huge collection of ancient German books in London
Summary "PENTHESILEA" by Heinrich von Kleist is a tragic play written during the early 19th century. The narrative revolves around Penthesilea, the queen of the Amazons, as she grapples with her role as a warrior amidst the chaos of battle while harboring a deep infatuation for Achilles, a hero of the Greek forces. The play explores themes of love, power, and the dichotomy between femininity and warrior ethos in a war-torn landscape. The opening of "Penthesilea" presents a dramatic assemblage of characters before the backdrop of the Trojan battlefield. As the Amazons, led by Penthesilea, clash with Greek heroes, including Odysseus and Achilles, the tension of war is palpable. The initial exchanges among the warriors reveal their apprehensions and strategies while highlighting the escalating conflict. Penthesilea's fierce determination to confront Achilles is underscored by her emotional instability, as she fluctuates between moments of rage and vulnerability. Conversations among both the Greeks and Amazons foreshadow the tragic events to unfold as they vie for supremacy, setting the stage for a confrontation that intertwines love with hatred, ultimately challenging the characters’ perceptions of honor and desire. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language German
LoC Class PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures
Subject Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons -- Drama
Subject Kings and rulers -- Drama
Subject Achilles (Mythological character) -- Drama
Subject Verse drama
Category Text
EBook-No. 6648
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Dec 29, 2020
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 156 downloads in the last 30 days.
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